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E-Alert Item: WCIRB Votes To Boost Rate Increase Recommendation

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau has just voted to amend its recommendation for an increase in pure premium rates for 2003. Back in July, the California insurance commissioner approved the WCIRB’s recommendation for an 11.9% increase in the rates. But based on a review of new data reported by insurers reflecting a rise in […]

Claims Adjusters Don’t Qualify for Overtime Exemption

Liberty Mutual’s claims adjusters investigated and estimated claims, made coverage determinations, negotiated settlements, and identified potential fraud. The claims adjusters sued the insurer for back overtime pay, claiming they were misclassified as exempt administrative employees. A California appeals court has now ruled in the employees’ favor, finding that they didn’t qualify for the administrative overtime […]

News Notes: Employer Ordered To Pay Big For Misclassifying Managers

An Orange County jury has ordered Edwards Theaters Circuit Inc., based in Newport Beach, to pay $276,000 in back overtime wages to four theater managers who claimed they were misclassified as exempt from overtime. The employees said they spent more than half their time performing non-exempt work, including cleaning up, taking tickets and selling popcorn, […]

What Maine Election Results Mean for Employers

By Daniel C. Stockford While voters handily reelected both of Maine’s Democratic representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives, a sea change occurred at the state level as the governorship and the legislature apparently have switched from Democratic to Republican control. In a surprisingly close governor’s race, Republican Paul LePage appears to have narrowly held […]

New HIPAA Regulations Welcome Wellness Programs

Under HIPAA, it’s been very difficult to run a company wellness program – until now. If there has been one constant theme in government employment regulations, it’s the battle against discrimination. Anything that even hints at bias is absolutely prohibited, even to the point, some feel, of being counterproductive. Such has been the case with […]

2010, The Year of the Connector: Is Social Media the Best Way?

By Maribeth Kuzmeski Just My E-Pinion Looking for a way to increase your bottom line without increasing your budget? Author Maribeth Kuzmeski says that the secret lies in your ability to connect. Read on to learn the keys for connecting that could make 2010 your most successful year yet. In today’s business world, social networking […]

Discrimination: Massive Wal-Mart Class Action OK’d by Ninth Circuit

Last year, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court’s decision to certify a sex discrimination class action lawsuit filed against Wal-Mart on behalf of up to 2 million current and former female employees. Last month, the Ninth Circuit has now reaffirmed its ruling, thus putting the suit one step closer to […]

Delaware Expands Antidiscrimination Protection in State Government Workplaces

Delaware Governor Jack Markell has signed an executive order that broadens the scope of discrimination protection in state government workplaces. Specifically, the order prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or expression and extends discrimination protection to all military veterans (instead of just Vietnam War veterans). While discussing the executive order and his administration’s commitment to […]